The Illness Finally Hit... June 30th

Ok health wise it wasn't the best of days. But experience wise it was incredible. I knew upon waking that food and I were not going to be on friendly terms for the day. Although I tried at breakfast (the cuisine was french toast - a little hard to resist) and knew within minutes that it was a poor decision. The rest of the day I survived on water - and not a lot of that!! Nothing sounded enticing (at least until dinner when I tried again - and it was a little more successful. But as I said the rest of the day was amazing.

I left the confines of Phil's house with Amanda and our cameras early and headed out to take a walk around the neighborhood. I've always felt the only way to see the culture is to walk through it. We did manage to see some of the culture and we were called Muzungu everywhere we went. I have yet to see a paved road anywhere in Casa Blanca (the area we are in) and the streets are all red clay). After about 45 minutes of wandering we were picked up by Susan and headed to the market so we could hit the pharmacy with Tamara. That was another experience. The market was filled with every kind of trinket you could imagine. I was in photo heaven. Vendors and children were everywhere. And again, every child and adult is vying to get their picture taken.

Later in the day we went to a soccer match between New Grace School and another school. We were moving in Uganda time and by the time we got to the field the game was almost over. It was an interesting contrast in that some of the players were decked out in full gear; uniform, shin guards, socks and shoes, while others were in their uniforms and playing barefoot. When the game was over and the other team one they celebrated like no other celebration I had ever seen. The celebration seemed to go on forever. The whole team and their fans gathered up tree limbs and danced in the field, and then followed us as we walked away for as long as we stayed in sight. It was the longest version of "Nanny Nanny Boo Boo" I had ever seen! After the game which was in a different neighborhood we decided to walk home. What no one told me was that this was about a five mile trek. And having walked through the different villages it is no wonder the disease rate is so high. Todays lesson for me was that these people have so little and yet they have such a feeling of community. Unlike us who close and lock our doors these people have no doors (for the most part to close) so they all meet outside and commune. The other thing that has amazed me is how independent the children are. Yesterday we were led on our 5 mile hike by the children. They led us from the soccer field back to Phil's house and we never had a doubt they would get us there. They were instructing US how to cross the street and protecting us from the traffic. It was very humbling. By last night, I think we all broke. The reality of the conditions here and the fact that this is the reality for these children finally hit home. We are all loving being here and it is going to be very, very hard for each of us to leave. It will be so discouraging knowing that these kids will be left behind and for the most part their lifestyles will never change. It makes me really wonder why I was born where I was and why these kids were born here. During the journey I was holding two children's hands. The little boy on my right was ten years old and he was full of wisdom. He informed me what everything was and kept telling me the english word and the Ugandan word and would have me repeat after him. Then he would laugh at my accent. At one point I got a pebble (and I am talking microscopic) in my sandal and started limping. I stopped and when I removed this rock (which felt like a boulder) I was embarrassed because most of the children were making this walk barefoot. They thought it was hysterical. I just thought it hurt! So though I don't usually get much exercise I want you to know I made this walk and made it smiling!

Then for something new and different we had fish (Talapia) and chips! I am not knocking it - the fish is awesome! I am not complaining!! But by the end of dinner I was exhausted. We did a devotional where Liz and I both shared and then I was off to bed with the start of a migraine. I was in bed and probably asleep by 10:30! I think I needed it and I woke up feeling much better. And off for another day filled with adventure...